What is automotive compliance?

Automotive compliance is part of regulatory compliance (more on this in this article of our EFS RegCom Academy) and refers to compliance with technical regulations, standards and norms in the automotive industry. This multi-faceted discipline is crucial to ensuring the roadworthiness of vehicles and minimising risks.

A key aspect of automotive compliance lies in overcoming regulatory challenges. Technical non-compliance can not only result in regulatory fines, but can also lead to civil litigation that could damage a company’s reputation. It is therefore of paramount importance to be aware of all relevant technical requirements and to ensure that the vehicles produced fulfil them.

Regulatory Framework for Ensuring Automotive Safety

In the EU, this is particularly the Framework Regulation (EU) 2018/858, which in turn lays the foundation for further regulations and standards. The framework regulation has placed a special focus on market surveillance in the automotive industry. Manufacturers of vehicles and parts must ensure that the requirements of this regulation are met, but also that the EU establishes effective mechanisms for market surveillance. In the course of market surveillance, the authorities randomly check whether vehicles and components comply with the regulations. This enables early identification and elimination of potential risks in connection with product conformity.

Safety standards also play an important role in automotive compliance. Standards such as ISO 27001, TISAX® and ISO 26262 are crucial for setting up and maintaining an information security management system. Another important area is compliance with quality standards. IATF 16949 certification serves as a basis for automotive manufacturers and supports joint product and process development.

What does this mean in a nutshell?

Automotive compliance aims to ensure the roadworthiness of vehicles and minimise risks. Manufacturers must comply with national and international technical regulations, standards and norms. Compliance with the regulations is checked by the authorities as part of random market surveillance. In addition, safety standards such as ISO 27001 and quality standards such as IATF 16949 are also important components of automotive compliance in order to ensure both safety and quality in the automotive industry. In this dynamic and highly regulated industry, comprehensive compliance with all relevant regulations and standards is crucial for the long-term success and credibility of your company.